stiffness in hips, lower back, buttocks

[Petehay]

Hi,

I was a collegiate rower and put in many hours at that time. Seventeen years later, I bought an erg and put in about a million meters to prepare for my wedding and get back in shape. It worked like a dream, I got fitter, thinner, and had a blast. Unfortunately however, I'm now experiencing a significant amount of discomfort after rowing (the pain usually comes after the workout). My lower back is very stiff the minute I get off the erg, which isn't really new. However, I now have stiffness and some dull aching pain in my hips and the top of my buttocks. This deep ache even emerges after I've been walking for a while or when I use the indoor bike, but I suspect it originates from my time on the erg, since that's what I did pretty exclusively for around a year. I suspect I should see an Ortho, but I'm wondering if anyone had any suggestions or advice. Do I have a pelvic imbalance problem? Arthritis? (I'm 38). I'd love to get erging again pain free, but every time I try to ease back into erging again, the pain comes back.

[JaapvanE]

Might be a technique issue I had as well. Make sure you use the recovery to return to the correct starting position so that your hips make the swing, not your lower back. For me, the RowAlong technique video's helped me a lot, see https://youtu.be/0lWejF1IkKg

[p_b82]

Could also be posture while rowing - tried a seat pad/padding?

[Willy.VdW]

I suspect I should see an Ortho, .....

I think you should. I also think you should stop rowing until you did.

[iain]

Third seeing a specialist. However I have had similar issues that were determined to be due to inflamation around a Fascia joint in my spine, short physio appointment cures the problem.